Customer Reviews

Deuces Wild

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I got this cd as a gift from my fiancée and I loved it. B.B. King, however aged , seems in shape and at ease in this album of duets. It is , however , strange to hear the opening track of the album, "If You Love Me", not being sung by B.B.King. The song was written by Van Morrison and he sings it, while the old bluesman merely plays guitar, adding no vocals. But it is a beautiful song anyway. The best track are "Rock Me Baby", in which Eric Clapton shares vocals and B.B. share vocals and guitar, "Baby I Love You", in which Bonnie Raitt's slide guitar does a great counterpart with Lucille, "Payin The Cost To Be The Boss", which reminds us that The Rollings Stones DID start off as a blues band, and "Hummingbird", where Dionne Warwick sounds perfectly at home belting out a blues tune. There are other good tracks too, but there were ones that I did not like, such as "The Thrill is Gone", with Tracy Chapman. It is not Tracy's fault. The song is just tired from being included in virtually all of BB King's anthologies and live albums. Another weak track was "Keep It Coming", in which Heavy D and King attempt a bluesy rap but it never catches fire. A track that is not great but not weak either is his duet with Joe Cocker in "Dangerous Mood". Joe is one of the best rock performers alive today, and his participation is worth notice. Well, to sum it up, it is a great album with a few weak tracks. If I were you, I'd purchase the import version which has a few more tracks, including "Let The Good Times Roll", with Zucchero.

Okay folks . . . take it from me. Buy this album. But please promise me to buy another couple of albums if you like this one, okay?

I don't care if you've new to the blues, have never before heard a BB King song before, or have never seen BB King in concert. This is perhaps the best introduction to the blues as you'll ever hear. From the Rolling Stones to Heavy D, there's something for everybody.

Typically the phrase "something for everybody" means lukewarm acceptance across a wide range of genres. I tried so hard to hate this album, but I just can't help loving it. Every artist here really sounds like they're pouring their best into the recording.

I defy you to tell me Bonnie's not leaning back and gritting her teeth when she plays slide guitar. Tell me that Heavy D wasn't breaking more than his usual room-temperature sweat when BB kicks the track back to him. My money's on Mick Jagger wishing he had some of Keith's alcohol-sodden blood running in his veins when the first few riffs of BB's guitar hits back harder than Mick expected.

Now that you've listened to it, go buy Blues on the Bayou. Then buy a Susan Tedeschi album. Grab some Little Milton too. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt at all to round it out with some Albert King, Ronnie Earl, and maybe some Johnny Lang or Kenny Wayne Shepherd if you're feeling spunky. But overall, shame on you if you don't have any John Lee Hooker!

This cd again proves that it is great fun to play with B.B. King. The man loves his music and brings out the best in people he performs with. On this cd they are all superb musicians on their own . There are some wonderful duos here. The first cut with Van Morrison If You Love Me is the kind of soulful and moving vocal that Morrison can do so well. Hearing Tracy Chapman do The Thrill is Gone is worth the price of the cd. I could listen to it over and over. There isn't a song on here that's a throwaway. I even enjoy Keep It Coming with Heavy D and Rap is definitely not my thing.

This cd would be a good introduction to the blues. We can see how many of these popular musicians have been influenced and moved by the blues.

B.B. King got to be the King of the Blues for a good reason. He is a phenomenal blues guitarist and a great vocalist to boot. Then you add an incredible presence and charisma and you get the man who is called King. No slight is intended toward Freddie King or Albert King but B.B. is the true king of the blues. This album is filled with great tracks. Paying the Cost to Be the Boss (featuring the Rolling Stones) is one of the highlights for me. I also like the duet of The Thrill is Gone with Tracy Chapman. Bonnie Raitt who also did a fantastic duet with John Lee Hooker in the late 80s shines on Baby I Love You. I could go on forever about what B.B. King means to me but it would take too long. Just do yourself a favor and buy this CD. This is a great celebration of a true American icon.

Unlike 'Lucille and Friends', 'Deuces Wild' is a collection of more recently-recorded B.B King duets and collaborations. Once again, there is a mixture of standard blues and roots covers and original songs. If anything, the range of artists and styles present here is even greater than on 'Lucille and Friends', making it a more interesting but perhaps less consistent album.

The best tracks here include takes on 'The Thrill Is Gone' (Tracy Chapman) and 'Rock Me Baby' (Eric Clapton), two songs which were hits for King himself in the distant past. 'Baby I Love You' (Bonnie Raitt), 'Confessing the Blues' (Marty Stuart) and 'Dangerous Mood' (Joe Cocker) are other strong songs. A great rendition of 'Paying The Cost To Be The Boss' with Mick Jagger on vocals is a highlight, 'Night Life' with Willie Nelson provides a surprisingly poignant closer, and 'Keep It Coming' with rapper Heavy D is not quite as embarassing as it might have been. Interestingly, a couple of songs from 'Lucille and Friends' are present in new arrangements, but unfortunately neither 'Hummingbird' (Dionne Warwick) nor 'Let The Good Times Roll' (Zucchero) match the standard of the original versions.

A solid collection that is not quite as strong as 'Lucille And Friends'. The diversity of the collaborators means they don't always gel with B.B., although once again King proves his ability to adapt his singing and playing to many different styles. It's maybe a bit too calculated and over-thought, and lacks some of the spontaneity of the older tracks on 'Lucille...'. It's still a good enough effort, though, and will be of interest to B.B fans old and new.

First let me point out to my loyal "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer" fans: Obviously BB is an all-time icon, but he is not in my personal top 6 electric blues guitarists, nothing negative in that statement, he's just a little too sedate for me overall. Now, moving on to the review. Talk about the word "fun"! If you could use that anywhere, it is here! BB performs "duets" with everyone from Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, The Stones, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, and a few others. BUT! THE MOST FUN ONE OF ALL, THAT ME AND MY SON SHAQ JR. LOVED, WAS WITH THE RAPPER "HEAVY D"! They perform a rap/rock duet, where "Heavy D", talks about making a "move" on BB's sweetheart "Lucille"! I'm sure anyone reading this review knows who that fine lady is! This CD is a definite "buy" and can be enjoyed by all ages, and musical tastes!

Nobody does it better !! B.B. put together an outstanding Cd with some of the best artists. If I could give this 6 stars I would. From the opening track If You Love Me with Van Morrison all the way to Night Life with Willie there isn't a bad tune to find. I love how Heavy D is in there putting the rap to the blues. I have quite a few of B.B.'s cds and this one is in my player right at the top of the list. While not having much if any of Willy's stuff, I challenge you to listen to track 13 and not start playing those licks along with him! Blues to the core! I have seen B.B. in concert and he is the man ! And he knows how to pull it all together. It's varied, it's different, it's blues. You won't be disappointed.

I like this CD! B. B. King is accessible to everybody, even if you don't have a clue as to what the Blues, and this CD is proof! I like hearing B. B. playing some of his greatest hits, as well as some new (for him) material in duets with some of today's finest pop performers; Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton, Mick Hucknall, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, Marty Stuart, the Rolling Stones, and Willie Nelson (to name a few).

For a look at B. B. doing what he does best (playing and singing the Blues), check out the 1998's Greatest Hits compilation and Blues On The Bayou.

It seems like we're bombarded with tribute CD's, doesn't it? This one is special because BB King jams with many greats and he sings with the same grit as he did on the original songs (and can still play a mean gutar!). Van Morrison sings the opening track. It's great to hear Tracey Chapman sing soulfully with BB on his biggest hit "The Thrill Is Gone". "Payin' the Cost to be the Boss" is awesome with the Stones- my favorite here! He also does a fine job with David Gilmour and Paul Carrack on "Cryin' Won't Help You". Other guests include Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker. It closes with himself and Willie Nelson trading licks (Willie's laid back country and BB's lamenting Lucille).

I like this disk. It's a good disk. But if you wait to hear Blues here (as real blues) you are wrong. This disk is excellent for fans of B.B. King, cause you hear him playing in a pop way. He even plays Rap! It has an amazing song with Bonnie Raitt. Excellent crew, althought it's not strictly blues